In addition to the rumors of an upcoming Galaxy S III Mini event in Germany (which we reported on last week), Samsung has confirmed an October 24 event in New York City as the first US stop on the Galaxy Note II's World Tour.

This Samsung "Save the Date" teased with a pic of a stylus but no mention of the Galaxy Note II

Late last month, Samsung was already teasing the affair, with a "Save the Date" card showing a stylus pen and the tagline "The Next Big Thing Is Here." However, the next generation Galaxy Note "phablet" was never shown. But the official invitations, which started rolling out yesterday, do show and name the device, removing all previous doubts.

The official press invite confirms the Galaxy Note II as the focus of the October 24 event in New York

Still, this is likely to be the beginning rather than the end of all speculation about the new combination phone and tablet. It doesn't mark the release of the new Galaxy Note II, and it won't be the first time the device has been seen.

So what can we expect to learn about the latest smartphone in Samsung's Galaxy lineup?

Well, for one, we may finally get some sort of confirmation on the Galaxy Note II's American release date. And hopefully, Samsung will be giving us some notion of its price, too.

Leaked pictures of what appears to be an LG-made future Nexus device surfaced this week

They usually stand for "life's good," but this week, LG's trademark letters stood for something else entirely – "leaks guaranteed."

If you're building a new smartphone, as LG appears to be, you can pretty much assume someone's going to get a picture of it, and that before too long, the whole of the internet is going to see it.

All that glitters is not yet to be sold: the sparkly backing of the new LG E960

The leak in question this time is what appears to be an LG-made Nexus device. Judging by the leaked photos, which appeared in the XDA-Developers forum, Engaget says the LG E960 "appears to be a variant of the Optimus G – until you realize that it's using software navigation keys, doesn't quite resemble the international or AT&T Optimus G models and is oddly badged as the 'Full JellyBean on Mako.'"

The device also bears some resemblance to Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, though the E960's corners seem more rounded than those of of the LG Optimus G, and it's backing is flatter, with a sleeker design than that of the Galaxy Nexus.

Meanwhile, says Mobile Syrup, the fact that the E960 has recently passed through FCC certification "showing off PCS and AWS bands for HSPA+ and AWS bands for LTE," hints that the new smartphone is likely to be available on a number of networks, potentially making it "one of the most multi-faceted unlocked phones on the market."

Based on the assumption that LG is in fact producing the next Nexus device – which it probably is – there's talk that the LG E960 may be ready by early November.

If you're a smartphone owner, you're already familiar with the ritual if charging up your device one or more times a day. And the question of how much power you're actually sucking when you do so has probably crossed your mind. It's got to be quite a bit, right?

The report found that the power used to charge a smartphone throughout an entire year is negligible. According to Opower, it takes just 3.5 kilowatt hours per year (an annual energy cost of about $0.41) to charge up an iPhone 5 from 0% to full, year-round. That's pretty cheap.

The rates were pretty close for the Samsung Galaxy S III, which costs roughly $0.53 a year to charge. Opower says the slight discrepancy is probably due to the fact that the Galaxy's battery is larger.

But, though the impact of charging an individual smartphone is pretty small, Opower reminds us that, collectively, they do eat up a lot of power:

"This year alone, Apple expects to sell 170 million iPhone 5s. Those 170 million smartphones will draw enough electricity to power all of the homes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a year."

Still, Opower predicts that smartphones may help reduce energy consumption over all, since they're now being used in many cases as substitutes for bulkier, more power-hungry devices, like desktop computers and TVs.

For instance, says Opower, "An iPhone 5 requires 20 times less energy to operate than a typical laptop – and 100 times less energy than a typical 42-inch plasma TV."

“Put simply, says Opower analyst Barry Fischer, "a day spent web-surfing and Facebooking on a smartphone or tablet is a much more energy-efficient day than doing the same on a computer [...] the rise of smartphones, like the iPhone 5, is likely to save energy in American homes as it diverts our time from using far less efficient consumer electronic devices.”

This graphic from Mashable compares the energy used for other consumer electronics relative to the iPhone 5

Top of the list was security. According to most of the top tech sites, Galaxy S III owners might have had a bit of a scare this week. That is, if Samsung hadn't already dealt with the problem before anyone even knew it existed.

Apparently, says Mashable, a vulnerability was discovered in Samsung's Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) that "potentially allowed attackers to remotely wipe the contents of Galaxy S II and III devices," essentially restoring them to factory settings.

This video, of Technical University Berlin researcher Ravi Borgaonkar at a security conference in Argentina, shows how it's done.

“We would like to assure our customers that the recent security issue concerning the GALAXY S III has already been resolved through a software update. We recommend all GALAXY S III customers to download the latest software update, which can be done quickly and easily via the Over-The-Air (OTA) service.”

So, now that your smartphone is safe and sound, how about encrusting it with crystals? If you're nodding your head in agreement, and if you have upwards of £2099 (about $3370 U.S.) to spare, maybe consider upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S III Swarovski Edition?

This crystal-encrusted "Swarovski Edition" Galaxy S III may cost you upward of $3370, but at least the case is free

The device, available from Amosu Couture, is set with 500 Swarovski crystals around the bezel, plus an extra 16 around the home button. Sort of pricey and all, but you do get a free calf leather case.

Now for the really juicy stuff. Hot on the heels of all the rumors surrounding an iPad Mini launch, Samsung's brewing its own big news about something small.

This leaked German invite to a rumored Samsung Galaxy S III Mini launch reads: "So big can be small. And so small can be big."

According to TechCrunch, which cited "a recently released press invitation," Samsung may be unveiling a smaller scale version of the Galaxy S III (the Mini) at a store in Frankfurt, Germany. The invite, written in German and loosely translated as "So big can be small. And so small can be big," is so far the only proof of such an event.

But it's already got Samsung fans more than a little excited, if you'll excuse the pun.

One need only look to the recent iPhone 5 hysteria, the raging legal battle between Apple and Samsung, or the righteous tone adopted in ads for most of the latest smartphones to know that some people take cell phones pretty seriously.

Thankfully, however, there are still a few good laughs to be had when it comes to mobile devices, and Pure Mobile is counting down our list of the best and funniest cell phone ads throughout the years. They're a good antidote to some of today's more buttoned-up advertising, which deals in hard facts, or promises some great technical advancement for mankind.

As much as we like heavy hitters like Samsung, Nokia, Apple and BlackBerry, we'd rather watch a middle-aged French woman breakdance, or the little green Android mascot burp than hear about specs any day.

Korean Android ad

We're not really sure what's going on in this Korean ad for Android, but the OS' little green spokes-alien sure sounds like he enjoyed his sandwich.

AT&T's Family Rollover Minutes

A mom guilt-trip at its finest. But the funniest part of this commercial isn't even seeing mom's typical “no waste” lecture framed in the context of cell phones, it's dad's resigned and exhausted little sigh. Watch for it.

Motorola's Stripping Wife

This older Motorola ad works the obvious appeal of an attractive woman removing clothing piece by piece – imagine the effect on a larger Galaxy or iPhone screen – but there's also a refreshing little punchline at the end.

Postbank's Rich Husband

This one isn't actually actually an ad for a cell phone, but we couldn't resist including it in this list, if only for the way it leads you astray right until the end. The ad's rich also handles things like a complete boss.

Vodafone's Mom Ringtones

This Vodafone ad from France has a mom acting sexy, looking like a zombie, and breakdancing, all at the switch of a ringtone. Classic.

T-Mobile's “Who's in your 5?” ads

These two ads from T-Mobile are so hilariously awkward that they definitely make our “Fave 5” cell phone commercials. One has two buds at odds over a secret crush (note the sly “foot massage” reference to Marcellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction.)

The other shows a teen boy hopelessly intimidated by his girlfriend's dad. Pops is a little scary, but somehow, you feel for him.

But that last ruling is unlikely to put an end to the drama between the two smartphone makers, even if it means taking the fight out of the courtroom and into the streets. In fact, Samsung has done just that.

Just days after Apple's iPhone 5 unveiling, Samsung's latest ad for the Galaxy S3 takes direct aim at the newest iPhone incarnation.

The ad, which compares the two smartphones' capabilities, and calls out the iPhone 5 by name, bears the statement: “It doesn't take a genius.” Presumably, the “it” in question is figuring out the Galaxy S3 is "better."

The timeliness of the ad, which must have been prepared based on specs obtained before Apple's September 12 unveiling, led 9to5Mac to quip: “you can say a lot of things about Samsung, but one thing you can’t say is that they are slow.”

Indeed, Samsung pumped that one out pretty quickly. But that's no surprise considering this isn't the first anti-Apple ad the company's run. Back when they were promoting the Galaxy S2, they slammed the iPhone with an ad making fun of Apple fanatics, claiming “the next big thing is already here.”

This time, however, Samsung's Apple-bashing is more delicately directed at the company, not its users, and that may just work. At the very least, the ad should make people feel smart for choosing a Galaxy, rather than stupid for standing in line at the Apple Store.

What do you think of Samsung's new ad? Is it tasteful? Accurate? Do you think it'll work? Leave your opinion in the comments section.

A couple of weeks ago a jury agreed with Apple in their latest lawsuit against Samsung, awarding Apple over $1 billion supporting its claim that Samsung infringed on their patents in the design of eight Samsung mobile phones and one tablet. But, there is method to Apple’s madness, and it isn’t putting Samsung out of business.

What this verdict does give Apple is the upper hand in “negotiations” that are being conducted through the courts all over the world. Apple’s opponents include five of their largest competitors in the global war for smartphone and tablet dominance. It’s not just Apple claiming patent violations. Most of the mobile behemoths are fighting amongst themselves over license agreements.

Apple big beef with its device-making rivals like Samsung, it that they use the Android operating system that Google gives away for free. According to Bloomberg Industries, Android accounts for about 60 percent of the mobile market, three times as large as Apple’s iOS. The big prize Apple has its sights on is having the dominant operating system in the device market. The problem many consumers, app designers and device manufacturers should have with Apple’s OS is that it’s a closed-garden operating system while Google’s (and Microsoft’s) is an open system. This means that Apple controls everything. (This was a point that Steve Jobs was always fanatical about.)

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh will probably deny a request by Samsung to throw out the verdict. Samsung’s lawyers will file an appeal in a higher court.

Koh will still have to decide whether to issue an injunction blocking the sale in the U.S. of the nine Samsung devices in the latest lawsuit. If she decides in favor of Apple, Samsung will have to make some design changes, eliminating the offending features or pull them from the market. Samsung probably won’t expend too much effort on this since the nine devices are older ones, and they can still sell them outside the U.S. The hit to their bottom line should be minimal.

Once the competitors get some legal satisfaction, they’ll make their financial deals over supplying products and components to one another. Even Apple will play nice. (Apple is Samsung’s biggest customer for mobile-device components).In the meantime, the companies are still doing business as usual with one another while they keep their lawyers busy in court.

Telecom companies and consumers aren’t going to put up with a clearing out of the competition by Apple. Many of us like Android devices like Samsung’s, and Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS is a welcome addition to the competition. Bottom line: what ultimately happens from all this bickering is up to us.

Samsung is bringing a new addition to its Galaxy smartphone line called the Galaxy S Duos, and it’s got one really unique feature – the ability to operate on two wireless carriers at the same time.

The Galaxy S Duos hardware is designed to support two SIM cards. You can have two different phones numbers running on two different networks from the same phone. In other words, even if you have AT&T for work and Verizon for personal use, you can use the same phone for both.

As Samsung said in a blog post announcing the phone: “Its unique ‘Dual SIM Always On’ feature allows you to receive calls on one SIM number while taking a call from the other, ensuring that you can manage both personal and work commitments without ever missing a call. You also have the flexibility of selecting different billing plans for either SIM, switching between them at your convenience.”

At first glance, the Galaxy S Duos looks a lot like the Galaxy S III, but its features are very different. The Duos has a 4-inch 480x 800 TFT touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 1GHz processor and 4GB of storage.

In contrast, the Galaxy S III has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen with 1,280 x 720 resolution, a higher-resolution 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and either 16 or 32GB of built-in storage.

The Samsung Galaxy S Duos will be available next month in Europe. There's no word on when those of us on this side of the Atlantic will see it.

The most common and popular Android Smartphones include the Samsung Galaxy S3, the HTC One X, the HTC One S and the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx by Verizon Wireless. Here's some interesting facts about the Android Smartphones is that the total number of Android Smartphones worldwide is 268,000,000 and more than 800,000 Android Smartphones are activated each day. More than 35 percent of the Smartphone markets in the United States are Android Smartphone users, more than 15000 Android Applications are released each month, more than 62 percent of those Android Applications are free and more than 15 percent of all Android Applications are games. Here are ten of the most popular Android Applications for the Android Smartphones:

1) Google Music lets a user upload 20,000 songs from a PC or Mac to the cloud; the Android application instantly syncs those tunes and playlists, so there’s no longer any worry about plugging a mobile device into the desktop to download their music. Google Music is nicely integrated with the Android Market and features popular songs free and other titles for $.49.

2) One of the most unsettling features about Android Applications is their uncanny ability to often reach the market without any testing for malicious software. However, WEBROOT SECURITY AND ANTIVIRUS will take care of all of your malicious software worries and concerns. This application for Android users such as Sony Xperia Play, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, etc.. free version automatically scans a phone for viruses and blocks malicious Web sites and SMS messages and also includes a device locater feature, which is activated from the company’s Web site.

3) SWIFTKEY X which can be purchased for $3.00 is perfect if your thumbs don’t fly on a touch-screen keypad, and newfangled typing options like Swype do not work This Android Application also features offers corrections and predictions as you type, and it can scan your Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and SMS accounts to refine its predictions.

4) ANY.DO is a free Android Application that is an Internet component reminder service that features an auto-fill feature to save keystrokes, and tasks can be rescheduled by dragging entries from one day to the next. Reminders come reliably on schedule, and when a task is complete, the entry can be crossed out with a swipe of the finger.

5) 8TRACKS is a free Applications that allows Android users such as Sony, HTC, Samung, etc.. to listen to other people’s music. With 8TRACKS strangers are your new Disc Jockeys with the simple name of an artist or genre, and it delivers related playlists from other listeners. It's like having a virtual audience of listeners before you, ready to indulge your musical tastes.

6) PAPER CAMERA allows users to see the world through a novel, original, stylish and captivating lens with real time cartoon and painting effects displayed on your camera feed. Paper Camera allows you to access the ultimate collection of cartoon/sketch/comic book/half tone/noir/neon and many other effects painted directly on your camera.

7) TEXTONLY — BROWSER allows smartphone users to intends to help you reduce your data usage by up to 90% through the displaying of readable content only, doing away with ads,scripts and images without taking away from your Smartphone texting limits. Most sites with good RSS feeds will be supported, and over 95% of websites are compatible with the TextOnly Browser.

8) BEWEATHER delivers quick, essential weather related information with a flick of the thumb. BEWEATHER forecast data is from Weather Underground, a service that has built a loyal following and a good reputation for reliability.

9) GOOGLE CURRENTS delivers beautiful magazine-like editions to your tablet and smartphone for high speed and offline reading. Every Edition they include is free and features Publisher Editions such as Forbes, The Guardian, TechCrunch, PBS, Saveur, Popular Science, ABC, 500px, Fast Company, Scientific American, CBS, The Atlantic, your favorite blogs and feeds and Google trending editions.

10) SPEAKTOIT ASSISTANT is the next best thing for Android Smartphone users next to Siri, the personal assistant for iPhone 4S owners. However, while it doesn't have the same capabilities are Siri it does include, it opens a Google search with a few key words from your request, which is often faster than typing. Maybe it should have closer comparison to Dragon Naturally Speaking Software.

Samsung has been in the news and media outlets lately but it isn't necessarily for the best reasons because they're currently embroiled in an ongoing battle in court Apple vs. Samsung. The court battle is in repercussions due to patent issues in regards to their Samsung Smartphones and Tablets. Samsung is best known for its line of Samsung Smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Samsung DoubleTake, the Samsung Galaxy S and even the Samsung Focus. Samsung's Smartphones and Smartphone Accessories are innovative, creative and very popular that many Smartphone users should own. Here's a list of some of Samsung's Most Popular Smartphone Accessories:

1) Smartphone Cases and Holsters are a necessity for every Samsung Smartphone owner to own and utilize especially if you are a Smartphone user whether you are at home or on the road. The Samsung Smartphone Cases and Holsters come in a variety of two different colors and textures; it also features a additional protection for your smartphone against scratches on the front and back of your Samsung Smartphone. Another unique feature to Samsung Smartphone Cases and Holsters is that the cases are unusually slim and ultra light and its textured grip keeps the Smartphone safely protected in your pocket or on your belt holster.

2) Samsung's Multimedia Adapters are another essential accessory for your Samsung Smartphone features the HDTV Adapter Tip with a 5 to 11 Pin Converter, TecTile Programmable NFC Tags and even an HDTV Universal Adapter. Particularly the TecTile Programmable NFC Tags can be programmed to change settings on your phone, launch applications, check-in to places, update social status, or even make phone calls or send text messages automatically. The HDTV Universal Adapter supports HD signals up to 1080p and can connect signals directly to your mobile phone and even create an HDMI Docking Station.

3) Samsung Smartphone Accessories also is sure to include a large collection of Smartphone Batteries and Battery Covers. Some of the most popular Samsung Battery Collection includes the traditional Galaxy S Standard Battery which features a the latest and greatest lithium ion technology specifically designed to give you the most reliable and long lasting battery life for your Samsung Smartphone. Another popular battery includes the Galaxy Nexus i515 Battery Bundle Kit which includes an additional Extended Battery & Extended Battery Cover and can be used with the 2100 mAh extended battery which is also included.

4) Bluetooth Headsets are another popular and favorite accessory for most Smartphone users whether you own Samsung or iPhone. Some of the most popular Samsung Bluetooth Headsets include the HM7000 Bluetooth Headset hat is ultra-slim, ultra-capable, and ultra-convenient, Samsung claims it so slim and sleek you'll forget you're wearing the headset. Another popular headset includes the HS3000 Bluetooth Headset that features a convenient, clip-on communication and entertainment device for individuals on the move.

5) Another necessary smartphone accessory is the Smartphone Vehicle Docks which include the ever popular the Samsung Galaxy Universal Multimedia Desktop Dock which features a multimedia dock that enables it users to continue with daily activities such as working, driving or even taking nap all the while your Samsung Smartphone is kept close at hand. Another popular the Samsung Universal Navigational Vehicle Mount features a fitted mount that securely hold your smartphone in place during those long, boring car rides.

6) Memory Cards are also another vital Samsung Smartphone accessory including the 32GB microSD Card which is able to durable and stability and essentially designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, it allows you to store and play your favorite video and audio clips, it’s waterproof and even offers shock proof resistance. The Samsung Smartphone Memory Cards comes in a 32 GB, 16GB, 8GB and 4GB memory storage.

7) Samsung Smartphone Screen Protectors come in a variety of colors, designs and flexibility. Some of the most popular Samsung Screen Protectors feature an easy usability, accessibility and durability. The Screen Protectors are easy to apply and remove, they promise to give your Samsung Smartphone a special look and additional added protection. The Screen Protectors also guarantee a privacy screen filter which helps to ensure that those around your or next to you can't see what's on your screen.

8) Smartphone Chargers are a vital necessity that every Smartphone owner user must own and utilize in order to maintain the battery life of their smartphone. Some of the most popular Samsung Chargers include the Samsung Galaxy Spare Battery Charging System that also includes a standard 2100 mAh battery, a stand that allows your smartphone to fit snugly in the stand at an optimal viewing angle in portrait mode. The Samsung Battery Charger also include a charging unit that converts to a compact, carrying case for your spare battery so your Smartphone is always guaranteed to have a fully charged battery.

9) Wired headsets are not your traditional Bluetooth Headset especially when it comes to your typical Samsung Smartphone accessories. The most popular Samsung Wired Headset includes the Serious Sound Headset which enables you and your smartphone to receive quality audio features at an affordable price. The Serious Sound Headset enables to you listen to your country music, your classical rock, your oldies or even your contemporary jazz in crystal clear melodic harmony. It also enables smartphone users to make and receive calls with the in-line microphone and answer keys. So whether your spending time surfing the internet, watching a movie or reading your favorite novel allow the Serious Sound Headphones to clear your head and all the background noise.

10) Another accessory that is especially unique to Samsung Smartphones is the Samsung Galaxy S C Pen which features a fine build from an attractive and attentive brushed metal and chrome materials. The pen is styled with a tip that stimulates a single touch of your finger by allowing you to tap or swipe to provide a full touch screen environment without ever leaving your fingerprint evidence on your touch screen. This pen allows you to write and edit quick notes on your Samsung Smartphone, it also creates the ability for you to draw or edit in addition to performing typical touch screen commands